Evans makes bid to win over 'Toggs'

Chris Evans is set to take over from Sir Terry Wogan as BBC Radio 2 breakfast host
12 April 2012

Presenter Chris Evans admitted he was suffering from last-minute nerves as he prepared to start what he called his "biggest job by miles" - stepping into Sir Terry Wogan's breakfast slippers.

The DJ said he would be "completely bricking it" throughout the debut of his new BBC Radio 2 morning show on Monday as he bids to win over Sir Terry's loyal brigade of fans, the "Toggs".

Evans, 43, also admitted he will have to have to "prove" himself forever if he ever wants to escape his once-proud wildman reputation.

He said he would not try to emulate his predecessor but plans to retain the audience by "being best at what I do".

The star, who famously left breakfast shows on Radio 1 and Virgin Radio under clouds of controversy, will take over from Sir Terry, who fronted the Radio 2 Breakfast slot for a total of 27 years and is one of the best loved broadcasters in the UK. Evans, who until recently hosted the station's drivetime show, also inherits the largest audience in Europe.

Evans spoke in a candid interview at the Radio 2 studios in London as he made final preparations for his new show.

After finishing rehearsals for the show - which will be half an hour longer than Wogan's version and use features from his drivetime show - he said: "I'll be really nervous on Monday, I'll be completely bricking it.

"This is the biggest job I've ever had by miles. Don't Forget Your Toothbrush was quite scary, they're all scary on day one, but the great thing about the radio is that you don't have to wait until next week to do your next one. On TV, that's always a big disadvantage - if you don't do a great show you've got to wait a week to put things right. But on the radio it's different."

Evans is determined the difficult behaviour of the past is behind him. Previous appearances on a BBC radio breakfast show ended on bad terms. His time at Radio 1 was cut short by public fall-outs, drinking benders and branding station boss Matthew Bannister "the fat controller". He also ended his spell in Virgin Radio's breakfast slot on a sour note, despite at one stage owning the station.

But since returning to radio by joining his present station in 2005, he has had a blemish-free run. He said he would continue to be on trial to show his wilder, partying days were behind him. "You're only as good as your last show, you're only as good as your last week, you're only as good as your last mistake. I've definitely got a point to prove and I'll always have to prove it because I let people down once," he said.

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